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Fister solid in first spring start for Tigers

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By Brian McTaggart

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The split-squad Astros got a two-run homer from Jason Castro -- his second in as many games -- and a solo shot from Brett Wallace to pull away from the Tigers for a 9-4 win on Tuesday afternoon at rainy Osceola County Stadium.

Leading, 4-3, in the fifth, the Astros batted around against Tigers pitcher Duane Below, getting an RBI single by Wallace, a two-run double by Robbie Grossman and a two-run triple by Trevor Crowe, which pushed the lead to 9-3.

Tigers starter Doug Fister, who made his first start of the spring, gave up two runs in two innings on Castro's homer with two outs in the second. Erik Bedard, who made his Astros debut, worked two innings and allowed two hits and one run, which was unearned.

"I came out throwing strikes, and we had some good defense and they made some good plays," Bedard said.

Jhonny Peralta doubled and scored in the second inning to get the Tigers going, but Castro followed a Rick Ankiel double with an opposite-field homer in the second inning. Brayan Pena's two-run homer in the fourth put Detroit ahead, 4-3, but Wallace tied it with a homer and Ankiel scored on a fielding error by Peralta at short.

Up next for Tigers: Detroit returns to Lakeland, Fla., to host the Braves on Wednesday in a 1:05 p.m. ET matchup at Joker Marchant Stadium. Rick Porcello will face Atlanta for the second time in six days, followed by Joaquin Benoit, Octavio Dotel, Brayan Villarreal, Kyle Lobstein, Jose Ortega and Phil Coke. Likewise, Tim Hudson will make his second start against Detroit. The game will be broadcast on Gameday Audio.